Woman killed by shrapnel from pipe bomb set-off at gender reveal party
A woman was killed after being hit by shrapnel from a pipe bomb let off at a gender reveal party.
Police identified Pamela Kreimeyer, 56, as the woman who was killed by a flying piece of metal debris that struck her in the head on Saturday in Knoxville, Iowa.
Kreimeyer was reportedly killed instantly by the makeshift explosive that was supposed to reveal the gender of a child in the family, DailyMail.com reported.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said the family had placed gunpowder at the bottom of a homemade stand that had been welded to a metal base plate, according to the Ottumwa Courier.
A hole had been drilled in the side of the devise for a fuse. A piece of wood was placed on the gunpowder and a colored powder was placed on top of the board, which was presumably blue or pink to reveal the baby’s gender.
Police said tape was wrapped over the top of the tube, creating a pipe bomb.
The family originally intended for the powder to be shot through the top of the stand, but instead it exploded, sending shrapnel flying at family members standing approximately 45 feet away.
Mason County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt wrote: ‘This family got together for what they thought was going to be a happy event with no intent for anyone to get hurt.’
‘This is a reminder that anytime someone mixes these things there is a high potential for serious injury or death; please do not take these unnecessary risks. My condolences go out to the family.’
Metro US reached out to the multiple relatives of the victim on Monday, but they declined to comment.